MARITIME explorer Dom Mee hoped to be in Paris today after taking part in his latest rowing challenge.

Dom, who is originally from Chester, is the lead member of a five-strong crew rowing from London to the French capital as part of a warm-up event for an even bigger adventure.

In January Dom, 35, will lead four of the Royal Marines' team on a mission to break a French-held record by rowing 3,000 miles across the Atlantic from the Canaries to the Caribbean in the fastest ever time.

Last Tuesday his team headed off down the Thames from London's Tower Bridge hoping for calm conditions. But the 550 miles unsupported trip, which was expected to take four to five days, did not go as expected due to head winds and tidal conditions.

Dom told The Chronicle: 'The weather has been a shocker going across the Channel. There were a lot of southerlies and big tidal issues.

It's pretty remarkable we got across at all and then it's been a slog on the Seine. We've also lost two rowers because they had prior commitments and had to go back. It's a struggle.'

Dom said crossing the busiest shipping channel in the world was also 'hairy' at times and the team encountered a couple of big tankers.

The practice run aimed to declare to the French, Dom's intention to gain the Atlantic rowing record title for Great Britain. The current record, set in 1992, is 35 days and eight hours. Dom said the exercise had been 'excellent' training.

* Dom and his team are raising money for Barnados. To make a donation, go to: www.dommee.co.uk